GRAND RAPID – Grand Rapids administrators today received conditional approval from the state for the district's Union High School reform plan, despite ongoing labor agreement issues.

The district has been meeting with the union about time and pay issues, including how much teachers will be compensated for additional instruction time under the redesign. The most recent meeting was Thursday, administrators said.

The state Department of Education today announced that 45 of the 92 schools identified by state law as the persistently lowest achieving schools received approval of their redesign plans.

GRPS is among 22 districts that received conditional approval and will receive full approval if by Aug.1, 2011 it submits amendments to the building's collective bargaining agreement, signed by both the district and union leadership.

“Certainly, we are encouraged by the state's decision,” John Helmholdt, GRPS spokesman. “This gives us time to build upon tentative agreements already reached and come to a final agreement on requirements of the state.”

“To be globally competitive, we need to improve instructional strategies and outcomes for all students across the state, especially in our lowest ranked schools," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan.